Topic 2A: New Right view of the family
New Right views
New Right- married, nuclear, heterosexual family is the only correct family type
The term ‘New Right’ refers not only to a sociological theory but also to a political
movement. It is attached to a broad range of policies, both social and economic, adopted
by politicians in many developed economies from the mid-1970s including Thatcher in the
UK and Reagan in the USA
At the centre of the New Right philosophy is the belief in individualism and scepticism
about state control and intervention.
There is concern about the impact of state intervention upon individual initiative, with the
belief that too much intervention encourages people to be dependent on the state
The New Right seeks a reduction in state interference and a greater emphasis on individual
enterprise
Government should only perform essential functions including the security of the state and
the maintenance of economic policies that permitted enterprise to flourish.
Name: CHARLES MURRAY
Concept: Underclass
Argument
Sees the growth of lone-parent families as resulting from over-generous welfare state
providing benefits for unmarried mothers and their children
Murray argues that this has created a ‘perverse incentive’ as it appears to reward
irresponsible behaviour
The welfare state creates a ‘dependency culture’ in which people assume that the state will
support them and their children
Stated that the only solution to this would be to get rid of their benefits: “starve them into
marrying”
He believes unmarried mothers are responsible for creating a crime-ridden underclass
Believes state should take all the money given to mothers in food stamps and set up a good
adoption service and orphanage system
At the heart of his attack on single mothers is his belief in their inability to socialise the
disruptive energy of sons- Boys need fathers as role models who have been civilised by their
wives.
Criticism
However, critics of New Right views argue that welfare benefits are far from generous and
lone-parent families are much more likely to be in poverty
Inadequate welfare benefits
Most lone parents are women who generally earn less than men
Failure of fathers to pay maintenance especially if they have formed a second family
that they have to support
New Right views
New Right- married, nuclear, heterosexual family is the only correct family type
The term ‘New Right’ refers not only to a sociological theory but also to a political
movement. It is attached to a broad range of policies, both social and economic, adopted
by politicians in many developed economies from the mid-1970s including Thatcher in the
UK and Reagan in the USA
At the centre of the New Right philosophy is the belief in individualism and scepticism
about state control and intervention.
There is concern about the impact of state intervention upon individual initiative, with the
belief that too much intervention encourages people to be dependent on the state
The New Right seeks a reduction in state interference and a greater emphasis on individual
enterprise
Government should only perform essential functions including the security of the state and
the maintenance of economic policies that permitted enterprise to flourish.
Name: CHARLES MURRAY
Concept: Underclass
Argument
Sees the growth of lone-parent families as resulting from over-generous welfare state
providing benefits for unmarried mothers and their children
Murray argues that this has created a ‘perverse incentive’ as it appears to reward
irresponsible behaviour
The welfare state creates a ‘dependency culture’ in which people assume that the state will
support them and their children
Stated that the only solution to this would be to get rid of their benefits: “starve them into
marrying”
He believes unmarried mothers are responsible for creating a crime-ridden underclass
Believes state should take all the money given to mothers in food stamps and set up a good
adoption service and orphanage system
At the heart of his attack on single mothers is his belief in their inability to socialise the
disruptive energy of sons- Boys need fathers as role models who have been civilised by their
wives.
Criticism
However, critics of New Right views argue that welfare benefits are far from generous and
lone-parent families are much more likely to be in poverty
Inadequate welfare benefits
Most lone parents are women who generally earn less than men
Failure of fathers to pay maintenance especially if they have formed a second family
that they have to support
